Search Results: 19th Century Manuscript from Katz Fine Manuscripts Inc.

Pas DE Calais, France. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1800. Ephemera. On offer is an interesting personal loan note drafted in Revolutionary France. The document is dated the 19th Prairial of Year IX which corresponds to June 7th, 1800. The document was drafted in the Department of Pas de Calais, in northern France and bears a stamp duty seal from that regional government. The parties to it are two individuals – Antoine Marechal and one Monsieur Enlart. Our informal research has not been able to find any additional information about either of these two men. An excerpt of the document follows: Je soussigne [] Antoine Marechal, cultivateur demeurant a [] receverais qu'apres avoir compte avec le citoyen Enlart [] des amenages de fermage que je luis doit compris la dernier term de mon exploitation echu le cinq messidor dernier... [Translation: I, the undersigned [] Antoine Marechal, farmer living at [] will receive after having taken into account with the citizen Enlart [] of the… Read More

France. Fair with no dust jacket. Ephemera. On offer is an outstanding example of a military certificate issued by Napoleon’s invasion army between 1803 and 1805. The certificate is a Conge Absolut or Absolute Leave. It was issued to a woman named Jeanne Barrere on letterhead of the 5th Brigade of Light Infantry, Army of the Ocean Coasts. Of particular importance are the approximately 12 signatures on the reverse of the certificate. The original two red wax seals are intact. Our informal research has not been able to find any additional information about Barrere. The document was issued by the French Army of the Ocean Coasts (L’Armee des Cotes de l’Ocean) , the army Napoleon assembled to invade Great Britain in 1803. This 200,000 - strong army was quartered in harbours along the French side of the English Channel. In order to accomplish the invasion though, Napoleon had to gain control of the English Channel from the British Royal Navy. Despite grandiose naval naval… Read More

Vimoutiers, Normandy. Good with no dust jacket. 1825. Ephemera. On offer is a superb example of a promissory note and accompanying letter written within a few years of the fall of Napoleon. The letter was drafted in Vimoutiers, a town in Normandy. (Vimoutiers is the birthplace of Camenbert cheese). The author of the letter is a man names Delislelys. It is addressed to his nephew. Our informal research has not been able to find any additional biographical information. An excerpt from the letter is as follows: J'aurais reponder un peut plutot a la lettre que vous m'aver fait l'amitie de a ecrire si le depart de nos me freres n'eut pas ete si prochaines. Je vous restere toute la part qui je prends a la perte que vous vener on pour [] que nous venon de faire[Translation: I would have replied a little more to the letter that you advised me as a friend to write if the departure of our brothers had not been so soon. I shall leave to you all the part that I take in the loss that… Read More

France. Good with no dust jacket. 1850. Ephemera. On offer is an outstanding example of the Catholic Church’s teachings at a grass-roots level in 19th century France. This beautiful handwritten sermon is titled Sermon de III Dimanche de Careme (Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Lent) and notes that it is given by Monsieur le Cure (the Parish Priest). The handwriting is small and clear and an excellent example of the penmanship of the time. The source of the sermon is unknown. There is no specific reference to a parish, community or author. We do know from its title that it was written to be given at a mass on the 3rd Sunday of Lent. The ‘Easter Season’ of Lent and Easter Sunday is the most important in the Catholic church, more so than Christmas. An excerpt from the sermon: Les miracles que Dieu fait en notre faveire sont toujours des marques de la bonte et de la misericordie et les infirmites que JC aurit sont la figures des differentes maladies de notre ame ...[Translation: The… Read More

France. Good with no dust jacket. Ephemera. On offer is a fine example of a letter written to a very senior member of the French nobility and an important pioneer in public health in the Paris of the early 19th century. The letter was written to François Alexandre Frédéric de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt. François Alexandre Frédéric de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt. Was a very prominent member of the French aristocracy. He was also a significant social reformer of the time. He was very active in the administration and operations of medical facilities. He was one of the first promoters of vaccinations in France. He had established a dispensary in Paris and he was an active member of the central boards of administration for hospitals. It was in these circumstances that he received a letter from Charles Dormas requesting an appointment to the Hospital of St. Pierre to fill an administrative position, as indicated in this excerpt: On m'a dit Monsieur le… Read More

England. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1800. Non-Book. On offer is an autographed note signed by Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton (1809- 1885). Measures 4-1/4 x 7 inches. Oblong. Undated. An invitation to lunch. Signed simply Houghton. Richard Monckton Milnes (1809-1885) was a writer, parliamentarian. He was involved in many of the issues of his day. In the DCB it is noted that “his chief distinctions were his keen sense of literary merit in others, and the judgment and magnanimity with which he fostered it. He was surrounded by the most brilliant men of his time, many of whom he had been the first to acclaim. His chief title to remembrance rests on the part he played, as a man of influence in society and in moulding public opinion on literary matters, in connection with his large circle of talented friends. He secured a pension for Tennyson, helped to make Ralph Waldo Emerson known in Great Britain, and was one of the earliest champions of Algernon Charles Swinburne. He… Read More

England. Very Good with no dust jacket. Non-Book. On offer is an Autographed Signed Letter (ASL) of Charles Shaw-Lefevre, 1st Viscount Eversley (1794-1888). Dated March 19 [no year], the Viscount writes to Admiral Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons (1790-1858) in order to admit Lyons to the House of Commons that evening. Baron Lyons was a British naval commander and diplomat who led a distinguished career in the Royal Navy culminating with the Crimean War and his appointment as Commander of the Black Sea Fleet. Charles Shaw-Lefevre, 1st Viscount Eversley was a British Whig politician served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1839 to 1857. He is the second longest serving Speaker of the House of Common. Letter measures 5-5/8 x 4-1/2 inches. Autograph letter signed. One page. Black spot at bottom right near signature, otherwise, very good condition. ; Manuscripts; 24mo 5" - 6" tall; 1 pages; Signed by Author .

New Jersey. Fair with no dust jacket. 1860. Softcover. On offer is a remarkable artifact from the great days of sail and maritime enterprise in 19th century America. The first page of the manuscript bears the name "OHIO" and "American Line". The author notes that this manuscript includes “Foreign List of Corespondents [sic]…and List of Vessels Arriving at Woodbury NJ, 1866, 7, 8, 9, 70…and Diary for 1867, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74,75". There is a name on the cover page - J. Standley Twells. The manuscript contains a wide variety of information and suggests that Twells may have been a shipping agent, responsible for procuring supplies or cargo for various ships that came to the harbor of Woodbury, New Jersey. Certainly, at some point, Twells became a ship Captain himself. On page 31, there is a rough diagram of a 3-masted barque showing its exterior dimensions. Throughout the manuscript, Twells records various vessels that he has business with. These include… Read More

England. Fair. 1850. On offer is a remarkable, extensive 19th Century manuscript archive of handwritten music collected, written and compiled by British composer John Lang renowned for his composition "Joy and Peace". Some later items in the group were likely added by his son James and daughter Emily. There are hundreds [the pile is about 3 inches thick] of handwritten and printed pages of classical music with most of the pages are arrangments done by Lang of classical pieces by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven among others. There are many pages of Beethoven's Egmont and a handwritten arrangement of Don Juan. There are a few original compositions of John Lang and I noticed a short signed piece by Arthur David Freedman a composer from Minnesota, which is from 1921 [much newer than the rest]. The majority of this work was done in the early 1800s; there are a couple from the 1870s and the 1921 work of Freedman. The condition varies, there is foxing, chipping and some staining and… Read More

Britain. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1800. Non-Book. On offer are two autograph letters signed: 1) Autograph letter signed. Two pages, 4to. Dated "Stanford Rivers, Monday morning, [no year]." A friendly letter, making a visiting arrangement. 2) Autograph letter signed. Three pages, 4to. Dated "Amen Corner" [February, 1835] [with one page of draft response from the recipient on fourth page. ] Concerning the steeling of a legal matter. Isaac Taylor (1787-1865) was an English philosophical and historical writer, artist, and inventor. In 1825 he settled at Stanford Rivers, about two miles from Ongar, in a rambling old-fashioned farmhouse. Taylor was interested in mechanical devices and inventions, and he had workshop that he fitted up at Stanford Rivers. Early in life he invented a beer-tap (patented 20 November 1824) which came into wide use, and he designed a machine for engraving on copper (pat. 12248, 21 August 1848). Originally trained as an artist, Isaac Taylor at… Read More

DU BLANC [MONT BLANC?] PARIS FRANCE On offer is a small archive of handwritten letters relating to small pox. Letter 1 penned by Maurice Devilliers a citizen of Du Blanc France writes of small pox throughout the district and much more in this tightly written stampless letter with wax seal. Letters 2 and 3 are from the same health officer of the Revolutionary government whose signature is affixed on both letters but not quite legible.G+.. Good+. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. Manuscript.

La Rochelle, France. Good. 1801. Ephemera. On offer is an excellent example of a commercial contract dating to the earliest years in France following the Revolutionary War. The document is a commercial agreement involving several parties and dealing with a consignment of white wine. The agreement was struck in La Rochelle in 1801. La Rochelle was France’s major Atlantic seaport. Founded in the 10th century, it became a significant commercial and fishing port. It played a large role in the French slave trade. Home to Huguenots, the city figure in the French Wars of Religion of the 17th century. As the slave trade dwindled and the Revolution overtook the country, the city lost its prominence in trans-Atlantic trade. However, it nonetheless remained as an important trading port. A quote from the document: Presentemens payer pour Trois [] de vin blanc qui dois a la suivion du feu sieur Belin...[Translation: Present to pay for Three [] of white wine which must to the following of the late… Read More

PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA PA, 1801. On offer is an interesting handwritten manuscript letter dated May 1st, 1801 wherein French Emigré in Philadelphia J. DREUX MONCRE writes a two page letter describes the details of his ship travel and payment of debts. . Manuscript. Good. 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall. French.

France. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1801. Ephemera. On offer is an excellent edition of the French Republic Legal Bulletin from the early days of the Republic. The manuscript is entitled BULLETIN DES LOIS DE LA REPUBLIC (Legal Bulletin of the Republic) and was published, according to the new revolutionary calendar, on 22 Frimaire of Year 10 November 22, 1801. This manuscript details 19 separate laws that were passed by the government of France, a 5 member committee known as the Directory, in the bloody days following the French Revolution. They deal with matters such as the following: No (1087) Loi qui autorize un echange de batimens nationaux et communaux dans la ville de Blois [Law which authorizes an exchange of national and communal buildings in the city of Blois]No (1094) Arret portant qu'il se tiendra dans la commune de Curel, department de la Haute Marne, trois foires ... [Decree stating that there will be three fairs in the town of Curel, department of Haute Marne...]No (1101)… Read More

BETHEL TOWNSHIP, LEBANON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Good. 1802. On offer is an interesting document of early 19th century education, an original, handwritten note book covering a myriad of subjects related to mathematics. The owner and creator of this book was a man named Henry Snevely (also written as Snavely) and the book dates from 1802 - 1803. It seems Snevely was born in the United States and lived his whole life in Southeastern Pennsylvania. At the time of the creation of the book, Snevely was almost 50 years old, an established land owner in Bethel Township, Lebanon County. Why he had a book of mathematics is unknown, however, I have found records of a Henry Snavely, who taught at a school in Bethel Township from 1797 onwards. It may be likely that this book is actual not for Henry himself, but for the instruction of his students. Either way, the book presents a fantastic overview of early 18th century knowledge. The book covers a very large range of topics, however, Math pertaining to… Read More

Claverack, New York. Good+. 1802. On offer is a marvelous printed almanac from 1802. Containing 38 printed pages and 20 handwritten pages, it is an outstanding glimpse into what people considered important information. Paper bound, it measures 6 1/2 inches by 4 inches. The paper is in very good condition. There is a small burn scar on the leading edge of the pages but it is limited to the blank margin area. The 20 handwritten pages are about 40% complete. The volume is titled Stoddard's Diary: OR THE COLUMBIA ALMANACK, For the Year of our LORD 1802: It notes that it is the 'second year of the 19th Century and of American independence ... part of the 26 and 27 years. The author is Andrew Beers. It goes on to state that it contains: "... besides what is usual and necessary in Compositions of this Nature, many Things new, useful and entertaining." Printed sections include notes on human anatomy, interest tables, lunar almanac for each month of the year, a list of officers… Read More

BUFFONS CODLEIN FRANCE, 1802. On offer is an interesting 4 page 'precis' wherein Dr. Jean Verdier, the founder and director of a hospital and medical institution for educating future doctors, specializing in medicinal plants and the art of healing and rehabilitation complains that he is owed monies by the towns of Buffons and Codlein that made promises to him if he established the facilities on their lands.. Very Good+. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Manuscript.

LUZERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, WYOMING COUNTY, 1802. On offer is a significant, original manuscript relic of Pennsylvania state history dated City of Washington January 20 1802 a mere 27 or so years after the first and second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775 and 15 years after Statehood. Handwritten by John Jenkins to the renowned Colonel John Jenkins [b.1751], the author's father or brother most likely]. The letter reads in part "…letter from new York restating our position and had to attend on business….Eleventh day here…our petition are not yet presented to Congress… Judge Baron? from Starkbridge…I have given out a number of our coppays of our petition [likely regarding the Compromise Act of 1799] to the members of Congress so as to give them a fair understanding of the subject one of the members from Pennsylvania informed me in conversation that they (that is) the members from Pennsylvania, would oppose the petition as it would destroy the Scranton… Read More

France, 1802. Year 11 of the French Revolution, handwritten [holograph] letter from 'Le Liquidateuv general de la Dette publique' to 'Citizen Marechal, munitionaire des hopitaux' in conquered Turin. Quite detailed with many references to large sums of monies. Marked "poste restante", a notation written on a letter indicating that the letter should be held at the post office until claimed by the addressee. In fine shape save for a number of precise folds.. Autograph. Manuscript. Good+. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Good+. 1803. On offer is a superb, original 1803 - 1805 manuscript cypher and navigation book handwritten by a young midshipman James Maurice Shipton aboard the noted HMS Thunderer, a ship forever in the history books as the ship that spotted the emerging Spanish fleet and thusly began the Battle of Trafalgar and the demise of Britain's enemies and sadly the hero of the day Lord Horatio Nelson. [Notably Thunderer also took part in the Glorious 1st of June Battle against the French in 1794.] James Maurice Shipton who would one day captain his own ship and reap accolades, created this book while theThunderer worked blockade duty along the French coast. Mere months later the ship would engage in the Battle of Trafalgar and the decisive engagement by the British would end the rule of the French despot and dictator Napoleon Bonaparte. Included are a number of letters from archivists and historians providing background info on Shipton. The book is in wonderful condition, the vellum save for… Read More